| Category | GI Surgery |
Surgery to remove some or most of the esophagus is called an esophagectomy. If cancer has not yet spread far beyond the esophagus, removing the esophagus (and nearby lymph nodes) may cure cancer. Unfortunately, most esophageal cancers are not found early enough for doctors to cure them with surgery.
Often a small part of the stomach is removed as well. The upper part of the esophagus is then connected to the remaining part of the stomach. Part of the stomach is pulled up into the chest or neck to become the new esophagus.
